Plant Heat-Loving
Vegetables: Some
vegetables do better in summer warmth than others. These include corn, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, peppers, pumpkin,
melons, summer squash and zucchini. Once established, some plant leaves may
wilt during the hottest portions of the day, but will bounce back when
temperatures cool so don't over water.

Plant Herbs Requiring
Little Water: Rosemary, English
thyme, oregano and sage all do well with little watering. Remember, however, newly
planted herbs require regular watering until the roots are established.

Keep Grass Blades High: To help avoid burned and browned lawns, keep your lawn
on a three-inch setting. With longer blades of grass, your lawn will use less
water and the longer blades will help keep out weeds.

Use Plenty of Mulch:Mulch is a gardener's best friend during warmer months
as it absorbs water, reduces erosion and keeps weeds in check. Its value dissipates
with time, however, so it needs to be replenished at least once a year. Place
about three inches of fresh mulch around flowers, trees and shrubs. Make sure
the mulch does not touch the base of the plant.

Get Rid of Weeds Now: The best time to control weeds is early, before they
flower and establish their root system. Waiting until after they flower makes
the process more difficult, plus you run the risk of the flowers spreading
weeds seeds around your garden. Pull weeds now and then cover the area with
mulch to keep weeds from returning.

Keep Roses Blooming: Rose bushes should be in full bloom by June. To ensure
flowers throughout summer and beyond, prune back each stem low enough to keep
rose bushes dense. Remove branches that only grow within the center of the bush
as these branches absorb nutrients that would otherwise be used for flowers on
the outside branches.

Plant Pumpkins For Halloween: Pumpkins are a slow growing vegetable so it's time to
plant them now so they are ready in time for Halloween. The plants need lots of
warmth and moisture, especially initially, to thrive. Make sure to leave about
8 to 10 feet around each plant for its vines to spread and develop. Yellow
flowers will start to appear about three weeks after plant growth begins. The
flowers will develop into pumpkins after they are pollinated. Pumpkins will be
ready for picking in three to four months. They can remain on the vine until
the pumpkins are ready for carving.

Grow A Garden In A Pot: You don't need a large space
to create a beautiful garden. Plant
flowers such as begonias, petunias, geraniums, impatiens, succulents and
fuchsias in containers. Cherry tomatoes, lettuce, peppers and herbs also work
well in pots. Plants in containers dry out more quickly than if planted in the
ground. Keep the container plants well watered and place the container in a
location where it gets some shade each day.

For A Dramatic Flourish,
Add An Oak: If you have the space,
adding an oak tree to your yard can make a dramatic statement. These trees are
hardy, drought tolerant and native to central and southern California. The
largest of them all, the Valley Oak, can reach 100 feet high. Other varieties
include Coast Live Oak, which can grow as high as 70 feet, Scrub Oak, with its
dense growth can grow up to 15 feet and Interior Live Oak, which can reach
between 30 to 75 feet in height.